Premier League survival is paramount for Everton and Southampton but victory in their Carabao Cup clash at Goodison Park is almost as important.
It’s a meeting between the two teams at the bottom of the table and alarm bells are already ringing with neither side having gained a single point so far this season.
Yes, we’re only four games into the term but a long slog is already in store and confidence will swiftly drain away the longer the run without a victory continues.
Both sides suffered devastating defeats on Saturday, with Southampton losing 3-0 at St Mary’s as Manchester United eased the pressure on manager Erik ten Hag while the Toffees again tossed away a 2-0 lead and ended up losing 3-2 for the second straight match when they were turned over at Aston Villa.
Sean Dyche has already been told his job is safe until the end of the season and although backing from the board is usually the kiss of death in these circumstances, the Everton board would be foolish to dismiss exactly the type of manager who they would appoint as his successor.
Russell Martin was our tip last week to be the next top-flight manager to part company with his current club when he was as big as 14/1 with Paddy Power and Betfair, and the best price available is now just 7/1 with Sky Bet.
The south-coast club entered the season with big concerns about a defence which conceded 63 goals in the Championship last season and now there are worries about a strike force which has scored just once in four Premier League games.
Everton lost 3-0 at home to Brighton and 4-0 at Tottenham before the calamities at Villa and the Cherries but at least they have taken some chances in recent outings and that leads to them being the selection to win in 90 minutes at evens with William Hill.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin has scored in each of the last two matches and is 11/2 with Sky Bet to break the deadlock, while Dwight McNeil has hit the net in two of the last three games and is 15/4 to get on the scoresheet at any time with bet365. A 2-0 Everton win is 9/1 with the same firm.
• It may not be the case of men against Young Boys some expect when Aston Villa travel to Switzerland for their Champions League debut as the hosts are enjoying a decent run of form which saw them qualify for the tournament’s revamped format by defeating Galatasaray over two legs.
They have four wins and a draw in their last five matches and Villa haven’t quite looked at their best despite three wins from their opening four games in the Premier League. They should still triumph at 7/10 with Bet Goodwin while Ollie Watkins is 9/2 to open the scoring with Sky Bet after his brace against Everton on Saturday.
• Liverpool suffered a shock defeat in front of the Kop when they were beaten by Nottingham Forest on Saturday but should still have too much for AC Milan at the San Siro and are 19/20 with BetUK to beat their Serie A rivals.
Mohamed Salah is 23/5 with the same firm to break the deadlock by adding to his 41 Champions League goals which is a record for any player at an English club.